Trailer nose construction



l. A INVENTOR. HAMM HRM/N50# y @di 'l BY v ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 26, 1933.

H. H. ROBINSON TRAILER NOSE CONSTRUCTIONl Filed April 1, 1933 PaLtented Dec. 26, 1933 ,This inventionrelates -to the -Aconstruction of Vtrailer YVehicles-of the itypiegin which connection is made :to .the .tractorfvehicle .through amost A upwardly and their forward ends abut the-nose secured-in an eleviated prow OrnOSe-.Qrmed-fat the forward .end Y.of the trailer. .Atrai-lerofethis 4type .is zshown the patent .to CurtissyeNo. 1,880.,8 44,.-issued"Octoberfl, 1932. Thepresentin- Vention relates more-specifically -to the 'manner of -seeuring-tthe prow post finzthe :prow'of :the

trailer and; its .position .withi respect toy the -'adja 'cent trussmembers. It i is thefgeneralaobiect. of fthe.l invention to; pro- Vide a .trailerfthe prow: construction rof'fwhichsus- .tains the -concentrated istrains `lof operation; in han improved .andernore .eflicient 'manner 1 thanin any previously .known-constructions, fandliurther toprovide. an arrangementsofkparts'.whichsmay be .assembled in amannertowseeureand preserve ain fullest degree the .inherent strength -of (the :materials-employed. Other fandffurther objects will be :apparent from .the followingf descriptiontand claims.. .In the ,-accompanyingv;drawingwhichiillustrates .one embodimentoftheinvention;VA

Fig. 1 showstineside elevation :the ;assembly.;of the front end of the body trusses .vand-.thefnose r-pOSt;

Fig..2 vis -aiplanwview .ofV

thefnose .postf.assembly;

' Fig, -3 -is a.sectionalView,substantiallyrondine,v

.3-3eof.Fig..2; I y,

Fig. Il is -averticalsectional fview, y.on a -larger Yscaleof the nose post at the thrustjfnollar;k

VFig. 5:isfa :sectional .Viewsubstantiallygoneline 5--5 of Figi; f

Fig. .6 .isa `sectional stantially .on :line 6-6 ;of Figi f1; and y Fig. 7 is afdiagramreferred to-finfthe discussion of I the- 4distribution ofpthe strainsv andfstresseside- 'veloped when 'the rVehicle :is in foperation:

It 'will the zunderstood that i the construction iis bilaterally' symmetricalfandthat'la description of either half Iapplies Iin de'tailtoftheoth'e'r.l "Irl`l the drawing reference characters fl, `-l "indi- "cate the upper -fchords -of `rthe 'body trusses', land referencecharacters`2f2@the lower chords'. The forward ends ofthe upper'chordsttogether'in a initersd jointf4. The verrdsfof "the chordsand post S'areheldtogether by almetalcap member 5 comprisinga'body portion ,and Ltopfplate7 Welded thereto as at 8. The.fchords.1-,-and,;1are

cap ,memberls .welded to .thepost- 3` as V,at .10. AThe View. on-.a larger escaley sub- `.teiosionflmjernbers formin parts fof the body y ,'.trusses.f=

i The .lower chords f2, .f2 of the ktrusses `are .bent

,'post. Theforward ends of the flower..chordsare '.30 held-topos t..3by meansfof 'a formed steelxfplate imemberglghaving'triangular web sides .27 as ;shown. .The'fchords engage beneath top :flanges .16: formed; along ther upper ,f edge of plate member -15,. .Shorft :.bottom'iianges or fangle :supports 17 195 engaging beneath thef chords farezformedl by mak- .,ing ll-fshaped -cutsinf the :web 1 sides 1. of .the plate gzmembers forming .tongues lwhichlstre :bentwin- `wardlyandf horizontally. The` chordsare secured betweenllan'ges.:i6 fand '17 Vby means. of; ai plurality 70 of .f l;;oltsr-.l 8.v Member 15 1 at .theffrear edge.: of l-its .web sides 27`is=also formed@witheinwardly4 extendingzdiagonal #anges .20 -which serve .-as stiffening :elements which addrisubstantially ftothefrig-idity Vof;.thestructure r-Woodenfreinforcingstrut memfbers2 1fand.-22,held tol.the;platememiuerbyv screws .2-3,-further;increaserthefrigidity offtheplate-Iand o'the structureaasywwhole. :Platememberl'is formed Lto closely erw/rap? the ffront l and sides of thefnose posjl'andisiweldedf theretofatz. .Plate 50 leisfgprovidedfwithmppentriangularwebeportions i 26 .-adjaeentf posti-3, which portions farerdrilled to f. receiveeanchorzbolts 28 fior fwiretension Vmembers L29 gforming part ofV the rbody: trusses. v,The `nose portion 1 .ofwhe bod-y -trusses tisTr completed xbyj rear- 3 twardly; inclined'strutsfSO, A thez'lower Aends` of 'which raresecuredby'bolts' 31;'to theflange liofplateil. `Tlrerupper ends. off struts -30 t arezwelded-:astat'211:0 .extensions '33 formed-integral ew'th plates J34.

Plates, searersecuredibyebous 36 .to the upper 90 chords and rto fthe Iupper endsr of ktruss-fp'osts :37, .andfare'f-drilled :to Lreceive anchor bolts :3931er the upper ends of the Wire tension merribersv 29,r :The

:lower Aend' vof r:posts 37 rare secured to 'Ithe flower Y .chords 2; by sgusset l:plates 40 rsecured .iin fthe post andchord as" byI-bolts 4141 ,-v' in fthe 'manner disclosed in'my-zco-pending aapplicaton SerialNo. 602,754,

ffFig. 5)A upperand lowerl crosspiecesl 146 and side -members 147.Y ".Cross :frame v"i5 '.is se'curedito the 105 :s .djacentltruss :memberstin anyfsuitable manner. secured to the .capmemberf .byfbolts 9 .and-the The f cross 4.bracing at this :point is completed by diagonally 4positioned -rwireztens`ion members 38, i.the .upperndsof which are f'secured :by anchor bolts 42 to plates 34 and the lower-Penes areise- '1m gusset plates 40. The fastening means at one or both ends of the various wire tension members may include turn buckles for adjusting the tightness of the members.

Member 15 is expanded at its lower end, as best shown in Fig.-4 at 51, to receive extension 52 of thrust collar 53 andthe expanded portion 5l.is heavily welded to the thrust collar 53 as at 54. The thrust collar in the embodiment shown is formed with an annular recess to receive the locking plate of the fifth wheel coupler arrangement disclosed in co-pending application Serial No. 650,346, iiled January 5, 1933, but it will be understood that any other suitable formof locking means may be employed. Nose post 3 is tubular in cross section and is reenforced at its lower end portion with a cylindrical steel insert 56` which extends sufficiently above the thrust collarto..

assure proper distribution of the strains to member'15. The reenforced portion `of the post is extended below the thrust collar as indicated at 57 to form the pin portion of an articulated coupling.

ANose post 3 is preferably formed of-drawn steel tubing of comparatively light section. This material is well adapted for light, economical, but

-.strong construction butV it is a characteristic of this material that whenlheated excessively, there takes place a molecular rearrangement that destroys the so-called fgrain and leaves the mate- :rial ina weakened condition.- By myA arrangement', the-strength and manufacturing economies of adequate welding of the' parts is secured without weakening the structural parts which would ordinarily result from the use of the high degrees of heat necessary-for heavy welding. It is desirable that thrust collar 53 be rmly afxed to nos'epost 3 and 'through-itto therbody of the trailer since the Whole weight of the forwardend ofthe trailer is transmitted through the trusses l to this member and is concentrated at the lower surface of the collar. Thrust collar 53 is heavily vwelded to plate 15 at 54 before nose post 3 is inserted. Steel insert 56, made'slightly larger in l' diameter than the bore of nose post 3, is pressed [plishedwithout weakening the nose post 3. .connection of the member 15 topost 3 may be ireenforced by lighter welding-asrshown at the 'into the bore. The diameter of the bore of collar 53 is slightly less than the outer diameter of post andthe collar is expanded by heat to permit the reenforc'ed nose post to be inserted. Upon cooling f the collar shrinks to a stressed fit around the nose post 3 thereby holding the latter and the reenrforcing insert 56in heavy compression; It will be seen that the heavy welding at 54 has been accom- The variousV points 25.

vThe specific nose structure described, when considered as a whole may be regarded as a prism and is especially adapted'to resist heavy concentrated strains which may be suddenly applied in either a vertical or horizontal direction and the direction of application as suddenly reversed. "Difficulty has been experienced in" the past with the elevated nose type of trailer due to the fact that the forces tending toward failure of the structure are applied at a point out of alignment with the supporting and strengthening members.

'Moreover the stressesset up in the nose portion and transmitted to the frame are substantially different when the trailer is being drawn forward than when the 'trailer isbeing backed or its fortrailer brakes. 1

wardv motion retarded -by application Of the '38, cross braces 46 and side members 47 in the` 45 cured to the inner ends of bolts 41 which secure 'i seco-nd order with upper chord 1 as the iulcrum .and lower chord 2 as the weight, with line AC as the power'arm and line BC as the weight arm.

Owing to the exibility inherent in a truss structure, the order of the lever is continually changing fromV one to the other, and at times both orders of levers are undoubtedly present simultaneously, thereby setting up at the nose struclture violent and sudden strains of all kinds including tearing strains.

When nose post 3 is acting Yas a lever of the rst order, the point of attachment of lower chord 2 at B is in tension when the direction oi the applied force at C is in the direction of the arrow, and distortionof the structure is guardedzl@ against by tension wire 29, and in a lesser degree by strut 30. Gyrational deformation with point B as a center of gyration is prevented by the triangular shape of formed plate 15. YThe point of attachment of upper chord 1 at B being in compression tends to move backwardly, and deformation is prevented by tension wire 29, the arched configuration of upper chord 1, and the strut 30. When the direction of the force apthat lindicated by the arrow, the stress at point B is compressive and in a rearwardly direction, the strain being taken by lower chord 2 in compression, tension wire 13 in tension and strut 30 asa moving strut exerting an upward force upon plate 34, which is held against movement by its attachment to rod 37. The stress at A is tensional and the chord is held against movement by tenplied at point C is in the reverse direction fromllin compression, the latter strut tending to actl' sion wire 13, the arched configuration of chordlzJ 1 and by strut 30.

When nose post 3 is acting as a lever of the second order and the force applied at C is in the Adirection of the arrow, the point of attachmentr of upper chord 1 is in compression, and distort-25 tion of the structure is prevented by the arch of chord 1,-tension wire 29 and strut 30. Atfpoint B lower `chord 2 is in tension and is held against deformation by tension wire v29, strut 30, and,-

as the center of gyration is now at point A, by'lt formed plate member 15. When the direction of the force applied at point C is in the reverse directionV from that indicated by the arrow, and nose part'3 is acting as a lever of the second prevailing at point B compressive; frame distortion being prevented by members 30,13 and 15 in the same manner as when nose post 3 was acting as va lever` of the iirst order and the direcf order, the stress at point A is tensional and thattion of the forceV at C was contrary to that in- M0 dicated'by'the arrow.

The lateral stiiening at the base of the prism lstructure of the nose is provided by tension wires conventional manner. f

What I claim is: v

1. In a trailer vehicle of the type wherein the body frame is in the form of trusses, the forward panels of which converge at their forward ends to form a prow, the lower chords of said trusses'150 Y downwardly extending portion of the post'and provided with rearwardly extendingweb porbeing bent upwardly and forwardly to elevate the point of attachment to the tractor vehicle; a vertical prow post, forming a commonjpost element of the foremost panels of the body trusses and extending'substantially` below the forward ends of the lower chords of said-trusses, a lthrust ,collar secured to saidpost adjacent its' lower end point of attachment to the tractor vehicle; a ver-A tical prow post, forming a common post element of the foremost panels of the body trusses, and extending downwardly substantially below the point where the forward ends of the lower chords n of said trusses join said-post, a thrust collar secured to said post adjacent its lower end and forming part of the coupling means for the vehicles, and a formed plate fitted around said downwardly extending portion of the post and provided with rearwardly extending web por-y tions, said plate being secured at its bent portion to said post, the rearwardly extending web portions of the plate being secured `along their upper edges to the lower chords of said trusses. 3. In a trailer vehicle of the type wherein th body frame is in the form of trusses, the forward panels of which converge at their forward ends to form a prow, the lower chords of said trusses being bent upwardly and forwardly to elevate the point of attachment to the tractor-vehicle; a

vertical prow post, forming a common post element of the foremost panels of the body trusses, and extending downwardly substantially below the point where the forward ends ofthe lower chords of said trusses join said post, a thrust collar secured to said post adjacent its Vlower end and forming part ofthe coupling means for'the vehicles, and a formed plate fitted around said tions, said collar being shrunk on the'post, said plate being heavily welded to the collar and lightly welded to the post, the rearwardly extending web portions of the plate being bolted along their upper edges to the lower chords of said trusses.

4. In a trailer vehicle of the type wherein the body frame is in the form of trusses, the `forward panels of which converge at their forward ends post,v bolts securing said to forma prow, the lower chords of said trusses being bent upwardly andforwardly toelevate the point of attachment to the tractor vehicle; a vertical prow post, forming a common post element of the foremost panels of the body trusses and extending substantially below the forward Yends of the lower chords of said trusses, a cap member Welded to the lupper end of said prow post and bolted to the forward end of the upper chords of the body trusses, said cap member havv ing web portions for attachment of the tension members of said foremost truss panels, a thrust collar secured to said post adjacent its lower end and forming part of the coupling means for the vehicles, and a formed platev tted around said downwardly extending portion of the post and provided with rearwardly extending web portions, said collar being shrunk on the post, said plate being,` heavily welded to the collar and lightly welded to the post, the rearwardlyvextending web portions of the plate being boltedl along their upper edges to the lower chords Yof said trusses.

5,. Ina trailer vehicle of the type wherein the body frame is in the form of trusses, the forward panels of which converge at theirforward ends to form a prow, the lower chords of said trusses being curved upwardly and forwardly to elevate the point of attachment to the tractor vehicle; a 'vertical prow post constructed of steel tubing and forming a commonv post elementof the foremost panels of .the bodytrusses, a cap member welded to the upper end of said post, the upper chords of the body trusses converging to a mitered joint between the .sides of the cap member, bolts securing said chords to the cap member, a plate rearwardly extending triangular web portions provided withy `spaced parallel flanges, the lower chord'members of 'the body. trusses being engaged between said flangesr and converging at said lower chords to said flanges and the intermediate portions of the plate, rearwardly inclined struts having their lower ends secured to the rearwardly extending triangular portions of said platefand their upper ends secured at the intersection of the upper chords and the rear posts of the said foremost truss panels, a thrust collar shrunk on the prow post at the lower Yend of said plate and heavily Welded to said plate, said post extending below the thrust collar to form a coupling pin and a solid steel reenforcement press fitted withinv the lower portion of the nose post and extending above the thrust collar.

HAROLD H. ROBINSON. 

